Rotary valve for internalcombustion engines



' 'Sept. 9, 1947.

c. E. FRANK ETAL 2,427,270

ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGI NES V Filed Aug. 24', 1945 2Sheet-Sheet 2 M P-SQJK FT Tdi/YEY5.

Patented Sept. 9, 1 947 7 ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTIONENGINES."

Clarence E. Frank, Fraser,and-Raymond A;

' Wyatt, 'Detroit, Mich., 'assignors; to Briggs -Manufacturing Company,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application November22, 1943, Serial This invention relates to internal combustion enginesof the rotatable valve type-and especially to engines in which a.substantal portion of the combustion space for the cylinder at the timeThe present invention is especially applicable the portions 20c and 24a.

Divided and this applicatio August 24,1945, Serial No. 612,382-

19 Claims. (01.123 80) to, engines of the class having rotatable valves,preferably but notneces'sarily rotating continuously in' one direction,for controlling the intake and firing of the fuel charge and forexhausting of firing is formed by a chamber within the valve. theproducts of combustion. In the illustrated 'I'he invention hasparticular application to an embodiment of the invention, exemplifyingone engine having a rotatable, generally frustodesirableadaptationfthereof, a rotatable valveof conical valve in the headprovided with a bottom the frusto co ical typ S mountedvin t e Cy nportcommunicating with the cylinderand a side der h d s form h Subs a t yall or port communicating with the comb tio pa e 10 at least the'm'aiorportion of the combustion within the valve. Y I chamber. Thevalve or rotor is formed with an An object of the invention is toprovide im- Ope D0 43 inv the Side Of h V l adapted proved m a fordriving the valve as well as to register with intake and exhaustpassages and improved means foryieldingly maintaining the an ignition dv c during 'qp r being valve in proper bearing relation to the cavity inan Opening P t at the inne e d botto the cylinder head within which thevalve rotates. 0f the T0170! n ti g at all times with the- Afurtherobject of the invention is to provide cylinderimproved means forcoupling the valve to the In the drawings we have illustrated,by way ofdriving mechanism therefor. k example, one embodiment of the inventionas Still another object of the inventionis to proapp ied to an internalcombustion engine of the vide improved means for supporting andmountspark ignition type. However, it will be undering the rotatablevalve and particularly for stood that the invention is not limited to anenspring loading'the valve so as to substantially. gine in whichcombustion is initiated by spark counteract the pull on the yalve duringthe sucignitimlmost e e i Of @118 tion stroke of the piston. emulti-cylindertypes but for the purposes of sim- Other bjects of thisinvention will appear in plification a single cylinder unit of theengine is. the following description and appended claims, illustrated inthe present embodiment, it being reference being had to the accompanyingdrawunderstood that theremaining cylinders and asings forming a part ofthis specification wherein sociated parts are identical-to the structureherelike reference characters designate corresponding in shown anddescribed. g parts in the several views. .7 V I I Referring to thedrawings, the present engine Fig. 1 is a fragmentary. sectionalelevation coinpri ses a cylinder 20 within which a suitable illustratinga portion of 'a-multi-cylinder engine piston H is mou ted r IfeC D O T Dembodying the present invention. ton is connected in the usual mannerthrough Fig. 21s a fragmentary sectional elevation a rist p n a andC(mnecting rod 22110 t illustrating the driving mechanism for therocrankshaft 23 of the engine. Surrounding a portatable valve or valvesof the engine. non of the cylinder 20 is a cylindricaljacket 24 Fig. 3;is a section taken substantially through which is rigidly Sec d toithecrank forms lines 3- -3 of Fig.1 looking in the direction of thesubstantially an integral portion of the crankarrows. i r 40 case. Thisjacket member 24 has an extended Before explaining in detail the presentinvenportion spaced from the wall of the cylinder 20 tion it is to beunderstood that the invention is to provide a water cooling space orchamber 25 not limited in its application to the details, of extendingentirely around the cylinder. The cyconstruction and arrangement ofparts illus- .lindical jacket terminates within the height tratedin theaccompanying drawings,,since. the of the cylinderjZO at a point somewhatbelow or invention is capable of other embodiments and of 5 inward of.the wrist pini'lo when the piston is at being practiced or carried outin various ways. the extreme outer end' of fits stroke.- Also it is tobeunderstood that the phraseology The lower or inner end of the cylinder20 is or terminology employed herein is for the purformed with anannular rib 20a forming a pilot pose of description and notoflimitation. portion. slidable into and" having a smooth fit g, Thisapplication is a division of our applica-- within the inner cylindricalwall of the lower tion Serial No. 511,276, filed November 22, 1943,section 24d of the jacket member 24, the rib 20a and which matured intoU. S. Patent No. 2,419,- carrying sealing rings 26' to prevent leakageof 066 on April 15, 1947. the coolantbetween the juxt'aposed surfaces offorming a vertical shoulder 38. head is provided with a valve housing39whlch adapted to cooperate with a corresponding ribbed portion 24bformed at the outer end of the jacket member 24. sembled the ribbedportion 28a is drawn down tightly against the ribbed portion 2417, therebeing a gasket 36 interposed between the juxtaposed surfaces of theseportions adapted to be compressed to provide a liquid tight joint.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the outer end of the cylinder is formed withan outwardly extending annular flange 2% extending in juxtaposedrelation to an annular boss 27a formed on the cylinder head. Theoverlapping portions 21;; and 20b are secured together by means of aseries of bolts 3| which are effective to clamp the cylinder head andcylinder tightly together, there being a gasket 32 interposed betweenthe adjacent surfaces of the portions 21a, and 20b. This gasket may beof the copper-asbestos type capable of sustaining high temperatures andpressure, and when the bolts 3| are tightened sufilciently the gasket 32will provide a liquid and gas tight joint. The cylinder head is formedwith series of lugs or ribs 33 and 34 bored to receive bolts 36extending from bosses 35 on the jacket member 24 which, as stated, isfixed to the crankcase. The cylinder head may be drawn down tightly tothe crankcase or jacket member 24 by nuts 36a on the bolts 36, thusconnecting the jackets 24 and 28 tightly together at the Water tightjoint formed by the gasket '36.

The annular flange 20b of the cylinder is formed with an annular recess31 at its inner side The cylinder is integral with the portion 21a andhas an annular portion fitting into the recess 31 and abutting againstthe shoulder 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the inner end of thevalve housing portion 39 of the cylinder head and the outer end of thecylinder 20 are not only rigidly bolted together but also haveinterfitting portions as a result of which it is possible, to utilizethe cylinder 20 as a means for positively controlling the thermalexpansion of the valve housing during operation.

The valve housing portion 39 of thecylinder head is formed withagenerally frusto-conical passages.

When the cylinder head is as- 4 figure, the liquid coolant chamber 29has extensions 29a in the cylinder head extending substantially aroundthe. valve member 4| and also extending along and in the height of theouter walls of the exhaust and. intake passage 45 and 46. Anotherportion 29b of the coolant chamber extends through the dividing wallbetween these From this construction it will be seen that substantiallyall portions of the cylinder, cylinder head, valve and intake andexhaust passages, which are subjected to heating during operation, areexposed to the cooling efiect of 'the liquid circulated through thewater jackets.

The coolant is preferably introduced into the lower end of the chamber25, circulated upwardly through the communicating chambers, which have acommon outlet in the cylinder head.

In addition to the side port 43 the valve 4| has a central port oropening 41 at its inner end communicating with the cylinder. The valvemember 4| is also formed with'a cooling chamber 48 extending entirelyaround the combustion chamber of the valve member. chamber is adapted toreceive any suitable cooling medium such, for example, as metallicsodium, which is sealed into the chamber by means of an expanding plug48a.

In the present embodiment the valve or rotor 4| is driven at one-halfengine or crankshaft speed. It is provided with a projecting stem 49through the medium ofwhich the driving mechanism for the valve isconnected. The valve housing portion 39 of the cylinder head is providedwith -an annular recess 56 in its outer end through which the valvestem'49 extends. Within this re cess is located a cup-shapedspring'retainer member 5| adapted to receive a compression spring recess46 within which is mounted a rotatable V valve or rotor 4| which is alsoof generally frustoconical construction having tapering outwardlyconverging walls corresponding generally in shape 'to the inner walls ofthe recess 40. The bottom or inner wall 4 In. of the valve is preferablytapered so as to correspond substantially to the taper of the pistonhead, the construction being such that the piston head will approachvery closely thebottom of the valve 4| when the piston is at the outerend of its stroke.

The valve member 4| is formed with a side port 4'3 communicating withthe combustion chamber 42 and adapted to register successively duringrotation of the valve with a spark plug 44,

52 surrounding the valve stem 49. The outer end of the spring engages asteel coupling disk 53. This disk is formed centrally thereof with anannular set of teeth 54 meshing with corresponding teeth formed on theend of the valve stem 49. The valve stem is tapped to receive a threadedstud or bolt 56 which carries a nut 56a engageable with the couplingdisk 53 and adapted to be tightened to draw down the disk and maintainits teeth 54 in constant mesh with the teeth on the outer end of thevalve stem. The spring'52 is, therefore, heldunder constant compressionso as to yieldingly hold the valve upwardly within the frusto-conicalrecess '40 in the valve housing. The strength of this spring and theamount of preloading thereof is such that the effort exerted by thespring to raise the valve within the valve housing is suflicient tosubstantially offset or equal the effort exerted during the suctionstroke of the'piston'to draw the valve downwardly and away from itsseat. a

The coupling disk 53 is provided with external teeth 55 meshing withinternal teeth 51a on a ring gear 51. V This gear in turn has externalteeth 51b meshing with the teeth of a valve driving gear 58 secured to alongitudinally extending top shaft 6|. The cylinder head is formed witha housing 59 provided with a removable closure 6!) for housing thedriving mechanism located in the cylinder head. The top shaft 6| at oneend thereof carries a'gear 62 meshing with a gear 63 secured to theupper end of a tower shaft 64. This tower shaft extends through a tubeor housing 65 andcarries at its lower end a gear 66 meshing with a gear61 secured to the crankshaft 23 of the engine.

It will be noted that the bottom of the valve member 4| has a downwardlyand outwardly This cooling tapering contour liacorresponding to thetaper .ing contour of the piston head. This tapering bottom portion Haof the ,valveter'minates at a pointinward oftlie. outer end of'thecylinder wall in an "outwardly and upwardly-tapering or bevelled portion68 which overlies thebevelled end 69 of the cylinder wall. A clearanceof -a few'thousandths of an inch is at all times maintained between thebevelled 'or'tapering bottom portion 68 of the valve and the bevelledend 69 of the cylinder wall so that at no time during 'oper'ation willthe valve contact the end of the cylinder. This clearance will bemaintained even during the suction stroke of the piston since, as

previously stated, the loading ofthespring 51-is sufiicient tocounteract the downward pull on the valve during the suction stroke. Thevalve member is also preferably provided with an exteriorrrelief areaextending entirely around the valve and substantiallythe height of theside port 43. This annular-relief area may be formed either in the valveor in the wall 49 of the valve housing and may be constructed and serve.the purposes in accordance with U. "S.;Pat. No. 2,409,034, dated Oct. 8,1946..

We claim: I

1. In an internalcombustion engine, arotatable valve-having a projectingstem and" also formed with a combustion chamber, a coupling diskoverlying the end of the valve stem-and provided with teeth meshing-withteeth formed on the end of the stem, means adjustable axially of thevalve for holding said teeth in mesh, said" disk having peripheralteeth,-and a ring gear hav-' ing internal teeth meshing with saidperipheral teeth and external teeth adapted to mesh witha driving gear.r

2. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder head, a rotatable valvein said head having a' projecting stem, a compression spring embracingsaid stem and located in a recess in the head, a coupling memberoverlying the stem and operatively engaging the spring, cooperatingteeth on said member and valve stem, means for maintaining said teeth inmesh and said spring under compression, and means for driving said diskto rotate the valve.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder I head, a cylinderhaving a reciprocable piston, a rotatable frusto-conical valve in thehead formed with a combustion chamber and provided with formed with acombustion chamberand pro- I vided with an axially extending stemterminating in transversely extending teeth, a spring embracing'thestem, a coupling member. having ing in teeth,=-a spring embracing thestem, a

coupling member having teeth meshing with said firstnam'edteeth, meansfor driving said member, and means for clamping the valve 'stem andcoupling member together to place said.

springunder predetermined load effective 'to substantially counteractthe pull on the valve'during the suction stroke of the piston'a 7.:In aninternal combustion engine, a rotat able valve having a portion formedwith teeth,

a member'overlying said'portion and having teeth meshing with said firstnamed teeth, a gear meshing with-a second set of teeth on said member,and means for'driving said gear.

In an internal combustionenginda rotatable valve'having a portion formedwith teeth, a member overlying said portion and having teeth meshingwith said first named teeth, means for maintaining said teeth in mesh, agear meshing with a second set of teeth on said, member,

and means for driving said gear.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a rotatable valve having a" portionformed with teeth, a member overlying said portion and having teethmeshing with saidfirst named teeth, a

spring interposed between said member and a fixed portion of the engine,means for 'maintaining said teeth'in mesh and said spring undercompression, agear meshing with a second set of teeth on said member,and means' for driving said gear.

- 10; In an internal combustion engine, a rotatable valve having aportion formed with transversely extending teeth, a member overlyingsaid portion and having transversely extending teeth @meshing with saidfirst named teeth, a gear an axially extendingstem, said stemterminating in transversely extending teeth, a spring embracing thestem, a coupling member having teeth meshing with said first namedteeth, means for driving said member, and means for clamping the valvestem and coupling member together to place said spring underpredetermined load' effective to substantially counteract the pull-onthe valve during the suction s oke of the piston.

4. In an internal combustion ngine', a cylinder head, a cylinder havinga reciprocable piston, a rotatable frusto-conical valve in the headformed with a combustion chamber and provided with an axially extendingstem, said: stem terminating in teeth, a spring embracing the stem, acoupling member having teeth meshingwith said driving said gear.

meshing with a second set of teeth on said mem- 7 her, and means fordriving said gear.

11. In an internal, combustion engine having a cylinder head, arotatablevalve in said head 'having' an axial stemportion formed with teeth,

a member overlying said stem portion and having teeth meshing with saidfirst named teeth, a gear coupled to said member, and means for 12. Inan internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, a. rotatable valvein said'head havingan axialstem portion formed with teeth,

first named teeth means for driving said mem- V ber, and means forclamping the valve stem and coupling member together to place saidspring suction stroke of the piston.

. I 5. In an'internalpombustion enginehaving:

a cylinder head, a rotatable valve in the head under predetermined loadeflfective to substan tiallycounteract the pull on the valve duringthe amember overlying said stem portion and having teeth meshing with saidfirstnamed teeth, means ior'maintaining said teeth in mesh, a

gear coupled to said member, and means for driving said gear.

13. In an internal combustion engine having a' cylinder head, arotatable valve in said head having an axial stem portion formed withteeth, a member overlying said stem portion and having teeth meshingwith said first named teeth, a spring interposed between said member anda portion of the cylinder head, means for maintaining said teeth in meshand said spring under compression, a gear coupled to said member, andmeans for driving said gear.

14, in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, a rotatablevalve in said head having an axial stem portion formed with transverselyextending teeth, a member overlying said teeth meshingwith said firstnamed teeth, a gear coupled to said member, and means for drivin saidgear.

15. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and a rotatablevalve therein provided with a projecting stem and also formed with acombustion chamber, a member provided with teeth meshing with teethformed on the stem, said member having external teeth, and a ringgearhaving internal teeth meshing with said external teeth and also havingexternal teeth adapted to mesh with a driving gear.

16. An internal combustion engine according to claim 15 includingresilient means for holding the teeth of said member and ring gear inmesh.

17. An-internal combustion engine according to claim 15 including. adevice having threaded connection with said stem for holding the teethof the stem and said member in mesh.

18. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and a rotatablevalve therein provided with a projecting stem and also formed with acombustion chamber, a member. provided stem portion and havingtransversely extending with teeth meshing with teeth formed on the stem,said member having external teeth, a ring gear having'teeth meshing withsaid external teeth, means including a compression spring for holdingsaid ring gear in position, and a device having threaded connection withthe valve stem for maintaining said spring under predeterminedcompression.

19. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and a rotatablevalve therein provided with a projecting stem and also formed with acombustion chamber, a member provided with teeth meshing with teethformed on the stem, said member having peripheral teeth, a gear havingteeth meshing with said peripheral teeth and also having teeth adaptedto mesh with a driving gear,.and adjustable means for maintaining saidteeth in mesh.

CLARENCE E. FRANK. RAYMOND A. WYATT.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Moorhead Mar. 6, 1917

